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No One Wants to be your Second Choice for the High School Prom

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Imagine you’re back in high school, planning to ask a fellow classmate out to the prom. You approach your potential date, “Would you be interested in going with me to the dance? You’re one of my top choices.”

Not very compelling…The same is true for letters of interest: I’ve had several applicants ask me if it’s okay to say that an institution is “one of my top” picks.

Avoid that type of language. Instead you can say something like “I would be thrilled to be at your institution,” or ” I’m confident I can make a positive contribution.” In other words, you can stay honest while not shooting yourself in the foot.

I edit letters of interest and have been busy with them of late. Let me know if you need assistance.

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Post-ERAS, Pre-Interview Supplemental Questions

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Several residency applicants have told me that since they submitted their ERASes, some programs have asked them to answer additional, written questions like “Why our program?” and “How will you bring diversity to our institution?” The additional workload seems burdensome, especially this year, but I suspect residency directors are concerned about interview hoarding – since sessions will be virtual and thus easier to accept and attend – and are trying to weed out applicants accordingly. 

Although originally written for medical school candidates, see my blog entry here to help with the “Why our program?” question and here to help with the diversity prompt. 

Remember: This is a marathon, not a sprint. 

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Your Residency Application: What Do Program Directors Really Want?

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Imagine that you’re a program director (PD) going through scores of ERASes and interviews. What questions would you ask yourself as you assessed each residency candidate to avoid big headaches?

1) Can this person do the job? Is s/he competent?

2) Will this person “play well with others” and not create complaints from patients, faculty, or other services.

3) Will this person stick with the program and not leave prematurely? A PD does not want to scurry around to fill an open call schedule/ residency slot.

As you approach your interviews, consider how you can demonstrate your competence and collegiality, as well as your commitment to the field and the residency program. For the former, ensure you showcase academic successes, extra curricular activities that demonstrate teamwork, and – if asked – hobbies and reading materials that demonstrate your personality. For the latter, highlight research projects in the specialty, sub-internships, and knowledge about the program and city. 

Making sure the PD knows you are not going to cause him/her trouble is at least half the battle.

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Do You Have a Personality?

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“Tell me about a good book you’ve read recently.”

There are a group of questions that interviewers use that are sometimes misconstrued by the applicant. The “good book” question is one of those. In a case like this the faculty member is trying to get a sense of your outside interests. It’s a chance for the interviewer to see you as an engaged and interesting person. Misguided responses might be, “I’m reading a neuroscience textbook” to prove your intellectualism or “I don’t have a chance to read for pleasure because I work so hard.” Remember that having a compelling and kind demeanor is a large part of being a good physician.

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About Dr. Michelle Finkel

Dr. Michelle Finkel

Dr. Finkel is a graduate of Stanford University and Harvard Medical School. On completing her residency at Harvard, she was asked to
stay on as faculty at Harvard Medical School and spent five years teaching at the world-renowned Massachusetts General Hospital.
She was appointed to the Assistant Residency Director position for the Harvard Affiliated
Emergency Medicine Residency where she reviewed countless applications, personal statements and resumes. Read more

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Listen to Dr. Finkel’s interview on the White Coat Investor podcast:

Listen to Dr. Finkel’s interview on the FeminEm podcast: